No terror threat identified, but nothing can be ruled out: Rind

Karachi police chief Addl IGP Khadim Hussain Rind has said that no specific threat of terrorism has been identified yet. However, he pointed out, the possibility of any incident cannot be ruled out.

In an exclusive chat with The News, Rind said that control centres are being established, with one in his office, another in the city commissioner’s office, and also in the offices of the DIGs.

He said that all activities will be monitored closely, and the Quick Response Force (QRF) will be utilised to respond effectively to any situation that might arise.

“We have numerous adversaries, and it’s known that their hostile intelligence agencies have consistently targeted Karachi. You can’t completely eliminate any possibility,” added the city police chief.

However, he pointed out, the police are actively doing their job, and the country’s intelligence agencies are supporting and assisting them. “We’re committed to rooting out such adversaries and addressing the challenges they pose.”

He said that the police and Rangers are actively engaged in their duties, conducting intelligence-based operations on a daily basis, adding that the purpose of these activities is to engage in proactive policing, using intelligence to prevent potential threats and maintain security.

The goal, he stressed, is to stay ahead of any potential risk through vigilant and preventive measures. “We can discuss three things in this context: firstly, there’s terrorism; secondly, there’s law and order; and thirdly, there’s violence.”

Regarding violence, he explained, it should be understood to occur at a smaller scale among parties and among workers, and involving conflicts among members of different political parties.

“These incidents often take place in the areas where their offices are located, within their respective domains. These issues are a part of the election process and continue to exist.”

The city police chief said that as far as law and order is concerned, no serious incident has been reported yet. Regarding violence he said the police anticipate that incidents of this nature would occur during the elections.

Speaking about terrorism, he said that there were significant terrorist activities during the 2013 general elections. Attacks occurred on political activists and party offices, and suicide bombings were reported nationwide, including locally, he added.

“If we talk about police preparedness, I’d say we’re actively preparing ourselves. We’ve calculated our deployment for the elections, made preparations to control any potential law and order situation that might arise on Election Day.”

Rind said that the police planning includes strategies to effectively manage as well as respond to situations that can impact the peaceful conduct of the February 8 general elections in the city.

However, he clarified, you never really know what might happen on Election Day. He said that unexpected incidents can occur even at normal polling stations, and they can be sensitive areas.

“We’ve taken into account the historical context of these areas. You never know what might happen on the day of the elections. The reason we’ve established the QRF is precisely to deal with situations in such a way that they can be effectively managed on the spot.”

Rind said the government communicates such instructions to the Ministry of Interior, and these decisions are part of the government’s directives. The army, being mostly in reserve, is deployed at district level, and their presence is a regular practice in almost every election, he added.

He said that this practice is expected to continue in next month’s elections. He also said that the availability of the paramilitary Rangers would be in support of police efforts. Rangers will be available in the field as part of the QRF, he added.

The city police chief said the government communicates this decision, and when it is finalised, it will certainly cover all these aspects. In the elections, where various incidents involving different parties might occur, the police will be responsible for covering and managing such situations, he added.